President Obama and Climate Change

Remarks of President Barack ObamaMassachusetts Institute of Technology

October 23, 2009

Excerpt from President Obama’s speech at MIT:

“Everybody in America should have a stake in legislation that can transform our energy system into one that's far more efficient, far cleaner, and provide energy independence for America -- making the best use of resources we have in abundance, everything from figuring out how to use the fossil fuels that inevitably we are going to be using for several decades, things like coal and oil and natural gas; figuring out how we use those as cleanly and efficiently as possible; creating safe nuclear power; sustainable -- sustainably grown biofuels; and then the energy that we can harness from wind and the waves and the sun. It is a transformation that will be made as swiftly and as carefully as possible, to ensure that we are doing what it takes to grow this economy in the short, medium, and long term. And I do believe that a consensus is growing to achieve exactly that.”

Chairman Henry Waxman and members of the Energy and Commerce Committee brought together stakeholders from all corners of the country – and every sector of our economy – to reach an historic agreement on comprehensive energy legislation. It’s another promising sign of progress, as longtime opponents are sitting together, at the same table, to help solve one of America’s most serious challenges.

For the first time, utility companies and corporate leaders are joining, not opposing, environmental advocates and labor leaders to create a new system of clean energy initiatives that will help unleash a new era of growth and prosperity.

It’s a plan that will finally reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and cap the carbon pollution that threatens our health and our climate. Most important, it’s a plan that will trigger the creation of millions of new jobs for Americans, who will produce the wind turbines and solar panels and develop the alternative fuels to power the future. Because this we know: the nation that leads in 21st century clean energy is the nation that will lead the 21st century global economy. America can and must be that nation – and this agreement is a major step toward this goal.

For full audio of the address, click here.For video of the address, click here.

President Obama’s budget contains the key building blocks for creating the clean energy economy we so badly need. It re-emphasizes the President’s support for an economy-wide greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program, sets aggressive but achievable targets for reducing emissions, invests in new low-carbon technologies and helps those families, communities, and businesses that need assistance in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Most importantly, the budget also recognizes that now is the time to act and calls for a trading system to be up and operating by 2012.

The Administration is developing a comprehensive energy and climate change plan to invest in clean energy, end our addiction to oil, address the global climate crisis, and create new American jobs that cannot be outsourced. After enactment of the Budget, the Administration will work expeditiously with key stakeholders and the Congress to develop an economy-wide emissions reduction program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions approximately 14 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, and approximately 83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. This program will be implemented through a cap-and-trade system, a policy approach that dramatically reduced acid rain at much lower costs than the traditional government regulations and mandates of the past. Through a 100 percent auction to ensure that the biggest polluters do not enjoy windfall profits, this program will fund vital investments in a clean energy future totaling $150 billion over 10 years, starting in FY 2012. The balance of the auction revenues will be returned to the people, especially vulnerable families, communities, and businesses to help the transition to a clean energy economy.

President Obama understands that our economic recovery and our energy future are inextricably linked. By calling upon Congress to send him market-based global warming legislation, the President has clearly signaled that he understands the risks we face from unmitigated climate change. His talent for explaining tough problems and motivating us to work together to solve them is reason to feel incredibly positive about our ability to succeed in these critically important areas, despite the tough economic challenges we face.

But to truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America. And to support that innovation, we will invest fifteen billion dollars a year to develop technologies like wind power and solar power; advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks built right here in America.

Secretary Clinton’s appointment of America’s first special envoy on climate change is another clear and early signal that the Obama administration is determined to address this issue head on. This new position can help ensure strong and focused engagement at the highest levels as the United States works with other countries to forge a new international climate agreement. As special envoy, Todd Stern brings the expertise, insight and judgment needed to represent renewed U.S. leadership in the global effort against climate change.

This is a team with a keen interest in addressing climate change, and the talent and skills to get the job done. With Steven Chu, Carol Browner, Lisa Jackson and Nancy Sutley at the helm, President-Elect Obama's Administration will be well-equipped to tackle the challenge of building a new clean energy future that preserves the climate while revitalizing our economy. We look forward to working with the new Administration to achieve these goals.

This is exactly the kind of leadership the country and the world have been waiting for. President-elect Obama's statement makes clear that he's ready to roll up his sleeves and deliver the action that is needed to protect our climate, our economy, and our national security. He is setting the right goals and choosing the right policies. We urge the bipartisan leadership in Congress to work closely with the new president to quickly enact an economy-wide cap-and-trade system. Doing so will ensure significant reductions in U.S. emissions at the lowest possible cost, and help set the stage for a new international agreement ensuring that all other major economies contribute their fair share as well.

On the occasion of Senator Barack Obama's election to the presidency, the Center released the following statementof Eileen Claussen, President, Pew Center on Global Climate Change

November 5, 2008

President-elect Obama faces an array of urgent challenges when he assumes the Presidency on January 20, but I am confident that he will provide the leadership needed to enact a comprehensive climate policy that significantly reduces U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. I am equally optimistic that new leadership will provide the impetus we need to forge a strong green energy economy and restore America's standing in the world community, and I look forward with great anticipation to working with the Obama administration to achieve these critical goals.